Fair to welcome ‘smallest woman’

The Colorado State Fair will allow the “Little Liz, the Worlds Smallest Woman,” exhibit to participate in the carnival at this year’s expo.

AP PHOTO/THE DAILY TIMES CALL
This undated photo shows the World's Smallest Woman exhibit at the Boulder County Fair in Longmont. The show featuring a 29-inch-tall woman from Haiti was closed Thursday after two parents complained.

The Boulder County Fair Board shut the sideshow down last week after two parents complained to officials that the show was not appropriate for families.

Fair General Manager Chris Wiseman defended the attraction Wednesday, saying he was OK with allowing the Little Liz attraction to participate in the 11-day Fair.

“The bottom line is that this is how this person makes a living. This is how this person pays her bills,” Wiseman said. “I am not going to make judgment on that particular point. If you don’t like it, don’t go see it.”

The attraction, which gives Fairgoers the chance to see and photograph a 29-inch-tall woman from Haiti, has been at the Fair several times, Wiseman said.

“We’ve never had complaints about it,” he said.

Crabtree Amusements ran the carnival at the Boulder County Fair and has been with the Colorado State Fair for 10 years.

Owner Pat Crabtree said he disagreed with Boulder County Fair officials in their decision.

“They just denied her work,” Crabtree said. “A lot of people told us that they didn’t feel that was right.”

Crabtree said he has had several similar attractions at the Fair over the years.

Crabtree echoed Wiseman’s comments.

“Nobody is being forced to go in there. So if she is walking the streets, does that upset people when they see her? Are they upset enough to help them or are they upset enough to cause a little problem?”

Crabtree said sideshows have been around the carnival industry since the early 1900s.

“There are people that want to go out and see these attractions and remember something at the carnival,” Crabtree said.